More locals look close to home for a holiday

A CALL by federal Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson for Aussies to take their holidays in their local region has been reflected in the Shipwreck Coast where intrastate visitors were up by 12.9 per cent last financial year.

Mr Ferguson said this week tourism expenditure was important to local businesses and had a flow-on to the broader regional community.

“The Christmas break is a great opportunity to not only show your loved ones you have come to visit, but also to remind or introduce yourself to what great tourism products are on offer in your local region,” Mr Ferguson said.

Shipwreck Coast received 44.6 per cent of its domestic visitors from regional Victoria, 36.4 per cent from Melbourne and the rest from other states.

Domestic visitors stayed an average 2.8 nights in the region and spent an average $142 a night.

The biggest age group was 45 to 54-year-olds followed by 55 to 64-year-olds while older couples represented the largest life cycle sector.

Eating out at restaurants was the most popular activity ahead of visiting friends and relatives and general sightseeing, going to the beach and shopping for pleasure.

The most popular type of accommodation was with friends or relatives followed by caravan or camping parks, standard hotel or motel and rented houses or units.

Shipwreck Coast received a total of 596,000 domestic overnight visitors last financial year.

This was up 11 per cent on the previous year.

Alan and Carole Kealey have been coming to Warrnambool’s Surf Side Holiday Park since 1968, and now their daughters’ families spend their holidays here as well.